Structure of nanographite synthesised by electrochemical oxidation and exfoliation of polycrystalline graphite

The Letter presents the results of characterisation of intercalated and exfoliated graphite. The electrochemically exfoliated graphite (EEG) was synthesised in solution containing sulphuric acid and potassium chlorate(V). The number of graphene layers, degree of disordering and the presence of functional groups were determined using X-ray diffraction method, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to imaging morphology and structure of the synthesised material. The obtained micrographs indicate the presence of highly disordered areas near the edge of flakes and in-plane ordered lattice structure in the flat zone between disordered areas. X-ray diffraction patterns clearly indicate the presence of both nanographite and graphene oxide. The EEG was also characterised by relatively high thermal stability, which was confirmed using thermogravimetric analysis.